Thread: Thoughts on the first term my school has used Ipads

Thought I would share some insight into the first term my school has used iPads in the classroom; there have been both pros and cons. I will start with the positives; no harm in being opptimistc, after all!

Positives:

• I had to teach an ASEAN topic this term and it turned out to be an invaluable learning tool. We were able to take city tours on Youtube and use the Maps app to explore most of the ASEAN capitals on ‘foot’.
• The iPad seems to tranquilize my rowdy P1s; this is kinda nice on Fridays.
• When I first heard about the Ipads I was really worried how it would affect my student’s creativity. There was no reason to worry. I have been able to teach my P2-P3s how to make a Keynote presentation. Some of these kids have put my efforts to shame.
• It has made most of my students more responsible about their belongings which is a welcome change.
• I get a free iPad J
• I have a wonderful P2 class who are VERY curious. Now I am connected to the internet in class I am able not only to answer their questions but also show them a video or picture of their question most of the time.
• The camera was a helpful App for teaching nouns as I was able to tell the kids to take pictures of nouns over the weekend. It lead to a lot of discussion with P2; not so much with P3, who are pretty lazy if you compare the two classes.
• Some of the free Apps are pretty decent.
• I am able to take a picture of a page in the workbooks and then project it for the whole class to see. This really helps my students follow instructions more accurately.

Negatives:

• After a term, I have my doubts in the iPads’s effectiveness as a teaching aide for grammar. I just make the students practice and practice the grammar rules through games and written work. Seems to work better for me!
• I also have to use the iPad with P.1. I am finding this to be a total headache. They are the most overindulged and ill-disciplined class I have had come to me in three years. They are very hard to work with in general.
• Also, my P.1 has some very “special” students who simply are unable to follow the most basic of instructions in their native tongue.
• Auto correct is a nightmare to police with my P.3s.
• Some of the free Apps are just awful and do more harm than good!

I think using Ipads with P1 makes no sense, the kids still don't master hand writing and the school wants them to work on Pads. Seb, could u develop the point on awful Apps please?

Cheers for the update. You know what you're doing and they're still problematic. Luckily for me my province is the last in the line to get the I.pads so we won't be seeing them for probably about 20 years. Useful tool I guess but not a priority on a 3rd world education system.

Originally Posted by pathumseb

Auto correct is a nightmare to police with my P.3s.

Turn it off.

---Update---

Originally Posted by purplesmoker

the kids still don't master hand writing

Don't the pads have a stylus?

Do you mean tablets or actual iPads?

Originally Posted by Tommo

Do you mean tablets or actual iPads?

iPads are tablets.

so all tablets are iPads?

Originally Posted by Tommo

Do you mean tablets or actual iPads?

The thread title says "Ipads" Your question doesn't make sense.

I can't help thinking that at 20,000 baht a pop the money could have been far better spent on other things. But I suppose reducing class sizes (as an example), doesn't offer the same opportunities for financial leakage as industrial size orders for fancy gadgets.